Benefit Concert After Central Park Explosion Injures Oakton High Grad

A youth concert benefiting the Oakton High graduate who lost his leg when he accidentally stepped on an explosive device while on vacation in New York City last month will take place this Sunday at Jammin' Java in Vienna.

Eighteen-year-old Connor Golden of Fairfax was climbing rocks with friends in Central Park on July 3 when he accidentally jumped onto an explosive device someone had left behind.

Golden's leg was badly mutilated, and had to be amputated below the knee. He was forced to remain hospitalized at Bellevue Hospital in New York for nearly a month before finally being able to return home to Fairfax recently.

Family and friends set up a GoFundMe account for Golden to help cover his medical expenses and physical therapy. To date, more than $66,000 of the $75,000 goal has been raised, with donations coming in from more than 800 different people.

Golden is an avid musician who is now studying sound engineering at the University of Miami. He was a member of Oakton High's Cougar Chorus while in school, and now a group of Cougar Chorus parents are showing their support for his recovery by throwing the benefit concert for him at Jammin' Java, this Sunday at 9 p.m.

Expected to perform are many Oakton High students and graduates, as well as other local acts.

"The Oakton High School chorus family, which launched the campaign, considers this benefit concert a hero’s welcome and homecoming for a respected member of the community," said organizer Terry Lowe-Edwards.

Visit the GoFundMe page for Connor Golden online.

Jammin' Java is located at 227 Maple Ave. E in Vienna.

Image from Connor Golden's GoFundMe page.